Get All Access for $5/mo

You May Have Fewer Options to Wade in the Water This Summer as Thousands of Lifeguard Chairs Are Left Unoccupied A national lifeguard shortage has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
An empty lifeguard chair stands at Coney Island, one of New York City's most popular beach destinations on June 29, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

A national lifeguard shortage could be standing in the way of your summer plans.

Public pools and beaches are at risk of being dangerously understaffed after people left the lifeguarding profession due to a lack of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the pandemic "wiped the slate of certified lifeguards completely clean," the director of health and safety at the lifeguard association, Bernard J. Fisher II, told Axios.

Although pandemic restrictions have waned, trained lifeguards haven't returned to their posts, which may force public wading areas to be shut down over safety concerns. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported an upward trend in nonfatal drowning injuries since 2020.

"We're experiencing a critical national lifeguard shortage, with over 309,000 parks and pools (total in the country) over half of them will see closures or reduction in hours," spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association Wyatt Werneth told Fox Business.

RELATED: These 15 U.S. States Have the Highest Employment Levels, According to a New Report

For scale, Werneth, who was chief lifeguard in Brevard County, Fla. over a decade ago, said that over 100 people applied for two available beach lifeguard positions back then but this year only two people showed up for training with 50 positions needing to be filled, he told NPR in an interview.

According to the outlet, the shift in dynamic is likely due to the rigorous training and responsibility it takes to be a lifeguard and low pay. The average lifeguard salary in the United States is between $9.72 and $22.18 an hour, Indeed reported.

Still, pay may not be the main culprit. New York City raised its lifeguard salary by 9% and added a sign-on bonus, but the metropolis is only staffed with a third of the lifeguards it needs for public beaches and pools, per CBS News.

RELATED: Despite Recession Fears and Skyrocketing Airfare, Americans Are Traveling at Record Rates, According to a New Report

Other major cities including Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Philadephia have also taken the initiative to increase pay and training.

But while cities are desperate for lifeguards, Werneth warns that the job comes with great responsibility.

"It is more than just a summer job," Werneth told CBS. "Lifeguards have a unique advantage of letting people know there's a danger and to stay out of that danger."

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Business Culture

You'll Always Have Anxious Employees if You Don't Follow These 4 Leadership Tactics

Creating a thriving workplace environment hinges on the commitment of company leaders to nurture and inspire their teams.

Science & Technology

Why We Shouldn't Fear AI in Education (and How to Use It Effectively)

Facing resistance to new technologies in the educational process is nothing new, and AI is no exception. Yet, this powerful tool is set to overcome these challenges and revolutionize education, preparing students and professionals for a future of unparalleled efficiency and personalized learning.